With the passing of the great Carroll Shelby, it only seems fitting to feature one of his most famous creations. Carroll was known for taking unassuming vehicles and turning them into performance machines. The Cobra, for example, started life as a British roadster, but after shoehorning a V8 out front it went on to become a racing legend. Then he got his hands on the Mustang and turned it into an icon. Four-speed GT500s with 54k miles don’t grow on trees and this lime green ’67 here on eBay represents the best of the herd. Luckily, it also appears to have survived the ravages of time quite well.

Identifying a Shelby from its more sedentary brethren is not difficult, especially on the ’67s. The grill was re-designed, paired with a fiberglass nose extension that enshrouded a pair of 7″ driving lamps. A functional hood scoop and hood pins also hinted at the car’s sporting intentions. 1967 was the only year that the air scoops in front of the rear wheels were functional. The car borrowed tail lights from the Cougar, and more importantly, used the 428ci mill sourced from Ford’s Police Interceptor lineup, producing in excess of 350 b.h.p. Massaged slightly over the stock unit, the GT500 featured a pair of Holley carburetors mounted on an aluminum intake manifold.

This car is as close to a survivor GT500 as we’ve seen in a while. The interior condition looks spot-on for a non-restored driver-quality car. As an early-production ’67, it was likely manufactured at Shelby’s factory before operations were moved to Ford’s facility in Michigan. Much of the car’s interior remains original, including the carpet, headliner, and what appears to be the desirable wood-rimmed Shelby wheel.

Though it has been repainted, it retains the correct Lime Green color. The original paint can still be found in the door jambs, but rust lurks nearby in the lower sills. The seller says that there is rust in the “usual places,” but we think a more comprehensive report is in order considering the price.

In 1967, Motor Trend magazine compared the Shelby with the fire-breathing Corvette 427. By today’s standards, their conclusion is surprising:

The basic Shelby GT 500 is a true sophisticate compared to earlier cars built by the famous Texan… Chevy has cause for some worry from the GT 500 though. There’s more room inside, and it’s easier to drive in traffic. There’s a civilized luggage compartment that’s accessible from the outside, and there’s at least the same measure of racy styling. The GT 500 runs quieter, and in general is a more practical car for everyday use.

It’s amazing to consider the GT500 as a practical daily driver, but it clearly outdid the Corvette in the livability category. Perhaps this explains why this car has been driven instead of sitting on blocks.

As the seller notes, the GT500’s history has been known since new. Originally sold in Rochester, New York, it made its way down the coast. After a stop in North Carolina, it ended up in storage for 18 years before being sold to a Mustang specialist in Florida. Now residing with the present owner since 2003, he says it’s time to move on. Recent work includes new Koni shocks, tires, brakes, and clutch. Rust is never easy to deal with, but we would probably try to repair the worst of it and just drive. We are sure that is what Carroll would want us to do anyway. May he rest in peace and may his automotive legacy live on forever.